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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
authority_n	church_n	ecclesiastical_a	synod_n	2,123	5	9.4135	5	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91187	A fresh discovery of some prodigious new wandring-blasing-stars, & firebrands, stiling themselves nevv-lights, firing our church and state into new combustions. Divided into ten sections, comprising severall most libellous, scandalous, seditious, insolent, uncharitable, (and some blasphemous) passages; published in late unlicensed printed pamphlets, against the ecclesiasticall jurisdiction and power of parliaments, councels, synods, Christian kings and magistrates, in generall; the ordinances and proceedings of this present Parliament, in speciall: the national covenant, assembly, directory, our brethren of Scotland, Presbyterian government; the Church of England, with her ministers, worship; the opposers of independent novelties; ... Whereunto some letters and papers lately sent from the Sommer-Islands, are subjoyned, relating the schismaticall, illegal, tyrannical proceedings of some Independents there, in gathering their new-churches, to the great distraction and prejudice of that plantation. / Published for the common good by William Prynne of Lincolnes Inne, Esquire.	Prynne, William, 1600-1669.	1645 (1645)	Wing P3963; Thomason E261_5; ESTC R212456	96,461	90

in their own Fancies not yet fully discover'd nor set down in writing nor agreed on among themselves nor published to others for their better satisfaction The serious Consideration whereof may happily reclaime our Independents here from the error of their seperating destructive ways and ease the oppressed Planters of those Islands from that Independent yoake of Bondage under which they so much groane as to cry out to You for releife of their sore oppressions in their Letters which I shall beseech your Honors in their behalfe since they have made their addresses to your Tribunall by my mediation seriously to lay to heart and seasonably to redresse Thus humbly craving Pardon from your Honorable Assembly for my true-hearted Zeale to do you faithfull service by this unburthening of my conscience and presenting You with this Fresh discovery of those New Wandring-starres and Firebrands who revile oppugne your Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction Proceedings Ordinances disturb the much-desired peace of Church State which we should all earnestly endeavour in these distracted Times I humbly recommend all your faithfull undertakings for the security tranquility of both to Gods owne blessing with my devoutest Orisons to the throne of Grace and ever remaine Your Honours the Republikes Churches most devoted Servant WILLIAM PRYNNE A fresh Discovery of prodigious New-Wandring-Blasing-Stars and Fire-brands stiling themselves NEVV-LIGHTS Firing our CHURCH and STATE into New Combustions THe Apostle Paul led by a Propheticall Spirit hath left us such an exact Character of the last times and of the exorbitant tempers of many Christian Professor living in them as never suited with any age so fitly as this wherein we live nor with any generation of people so well as those New-Lights and Sectaries sprung up among us who being many of them Anabaptists have all new-christned themselves of late by the common name of Independents This character we finde recorded 2 Tim. 3. 1. to 10. This know also that in the last dayes perillous times shall come and what times were ever more perillous then the present For men shall be lovers of themselves coveteous boasters proud blasphemers disobedient to Parents Naturall Civill Ecclesiasticall unthankefull unholy without naturall affection trace-breakers false accusers incontinent fierce dispisers of those that are good Traytors heady high-minded lovers of pleasures of their own bellies lusts wayes opinions fancies more then lovers of God having a form of Godlinesse but denying the power thereof FROM SVCHTVRNE AWAY But some might demand of him by what distinguishing marke may we know who these persons are The Apostle therefore subjoynes such a symptome as suits most exactly with our new Separating Lights Conventiclers who forsake the publike assemblies and creep into private houses working principally as the * Devill did at first upon the weakest Sex For of this sort are they WHICH CREEP INTO HOVSES thus interpreted by the Apostle Heb. 10. 25. Not forsaking the assembling of our selves together or the publike Assemblies as the MANNER OF SOME IS and of our Sectaries now and lead Captive SILLY WOMEN laden with sinnes led away with diverse lusts EVER LEARNING AND NEVER ABLE TO COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRVTH as those Independent Seekers are who like * Wandring Stars gad every day after New-Lights New-fashions of Church Government wavering like empty Clouds without wa●er or waves of the sea driven with the wind and tossed not knowing yet what Government they would have or where to fix Believing and practising all things with a reserve to alter their opinions and practise every day upon discovery of further light 〈◊〉 the Independent Apologists professe for themselves and advise all others to do Now because such House-creepers and New-lights have usually lofty conceits of their own opinions judgements wayes as if the truth of God were monopolized unto them and therefore all the World should speedily submit to their foolish dictates and erronious by-paths the Apostle immediately passeth this censure of their persons and proceedings Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses so do these also resist the truth men of corrupt mindes reprobate or of no judgement concerning the faith but they shall proceed no further for their folly shall be manifest unto all men as theirs also was The very detection of their abominable seditious seducing practises shall put a stop to their proceedings and frustrate all their expectation Now if any man should doubt whether this prophesie of the Apostle were really intended of Separatists and Sectaries the Holy Ghost hath resolved it in direct termes in the generall Epistle of Jude v. 17 18 19. But beloved remember that the words which were spoken before of the Apostles of our Lord Iesus Christ and among others of the Apostle Paul in the for ecited Text How that they told them there should be mockers in the last time who should walk after their own ungodly lusts not after the Spirit and Word of God which they most pretend to and would you know who these are These be they who SEPARATE THEMSELVES sensuall having not the Spirit To which the Apostle Peter addes these further descriptions of them 2 Pet 2. 10 11 12 14 18 19. That they despise government are presumptuous felfe-willed speak evill of Dignities bring railing accusations against them speak evill of the things they understand not beguile unstable soules having hearts exercised with covetous practises being clouds carried with a tempest Wels without water who when they speak great swelling words of vanity allure through the lusts of the flesh through much wantonnes of spirit as well as flesh those who are clean escaped from them who live in error While they promise them liberty the liberty of conscience to professe what Religion they list to use what Church government they please without controll of Parliament Synod or Magistrates they themselves are the servants of corruption and as Iude v. 13. prove Raging waves of the sea foaming out their own shame wandring starres to whom the blacknesse of darknesse is reserved for ever All which descriptions how properly they suit with our NewIndependent-lights and Incendiaries I shall clearly demonstrate out of severall clauses in their late seditious Anti-Parliamentary Impressions betraying the rottennesse of their hearts the pride sedition and rebellion of their spirits which I shall reduce to these ten Sections 1. Seditious scandalous libellous and uncharitable passages against the authority and jurisdiction of Parliaments Synods and temporall Magistrates in generall in Ecclesiasticall affaires 2. Against sundry Ordinances and proceedings of this present Parliament in particular 3. Against the Nationall Covenant prescribed by Parliament 4. Against the present Assembly of Divines sitting and acting by order of Parliament 5. Against the Directory ratified by Ordinance of Parliament 6. Against our Brethren of Scotland whom of late they much applanded 7. Against Presbyterians and Presbyterian government in generall 8. Against the Church of England her Worship Ministers and Government in generall 9. Against such who have out of conscience

the Parliament and their faithfull friends and servants and that my actions and practises tend to no better end but to make him and his partie VS to be sleighted and contemned and that they a faithfull conscientious AND CONSIDERABLE PARTY IN THE ARMY and KINGDOM MIGHT BE DISINGAGED and CAVSED TO LAY DOWN THEIR ARMES c. After which he concludes thus pag. 7. Now I appeal to everie true hearted Englishman that desires a speedie end of these Wars of what evil consequence it would be to the Parliament and Kingdoms to have such a faithfull and considerable partie as Mr. Prynne calumni●teth and reproacheth as bad if not worse then ever the Bishop of Canterbury did should be causleslie cut off with the sword or be disingaged by his means especiallie seeing the Kingdoms necessities is such that they stand in need of the help of Forrainers In which Passage he intimates First that those Anti-Parliamentary seditious Sectaries who confederate with this Libeller know their own particular pretended strength in the Army and Kingdom Secondly that they fight only for their own private interests and to erect their own Church Government not for Religion not the publick Cause since my very writing against their Schismaticall seditious wayes but in meer generall terms as this Libeller one of their privy Cabinet Councell intimates and that by Authority of a Committee of Parliament in just defence of the Parliaments undoubted Ecclesiasticall jurisdiction and Authority which they most affront of any men whatsoever Is a means to disingage and cause them to lay down their Armes Thirdly I answer that if he his party be such faithfull friends and servants to the Parliament and such a conscientious considerable party both in the Army and Kingdom as he pretends my writing in defence of the Parliaments jurisdiction which they pretend to fight for can be no dis-ingagement or dis-couragement to them And therefore himself alone must be the Incendiary twixt them and the Parliament and the dis-ingager of them to lay down their Armes by these his slanderous Libells against the Parliaments jurisdiction Priviledges Proceedings not I who have only Cordially maintained them according to my solemn Vow and Covenant by publike encouragement and speciall approbation I shal therefore challenge so much Iustice from this Epistoler as publikely to retract all these his malicious Libellous slanders of me without the least provocation given him on my part or else he must expect from God all good men yea from his own best friends and party the brand of a most malicious Libeller slanderer Incendiary and undergoe the punishment due to such To this I might adde a whole bundle of Calumnies and injuries against me in Master Iohn Goodwins Calumny Arraigned and cast wherein he chargeth me pag. 2. for aspersing the Honourable Committee for Plundered Ministers and himself in averting that he was suspended and sequestred by that Committee which all the Committee then and himself with his Confederates since experimentally know to be a reall truth however they outfaced it for a time His other Calumnies are so grosse and triviall that I will not waste Paper to refute them These Libellers are not single but thus seconded by a Brother of their Sect one Henry Robinson in his Pamphlet intituled The Pretences of Master William Prynne c. A meer empty Libell fraught with nothing but railings and slanders against me and in his latter Libell intituled The Falshood of Master William Prynnes Truth Triumphing in the Antiquity of Popish Princes and Parliaments To which he attributes a sole Soveraign Legislative Coercive power in all matters of Religion Discovered to be full of absurdities contradictions Sacriledge and to make more in favour of Rome and Antichrist then all the Books and Pamphlets which were ever published whether by Papall or Epi●copall Prelats or Parasites since the Reformation with twelve Queries eight whereof visit Master Prynne the second time because they could not be satisfied at the first Printed in London 1645. Here is a large Libellous Title but not one syllable of it so much as proved or made good in the Book wherein he convinceth me neither of Falshood nor absurdities nor Contradictions nor Sacriledge And whereas he chargeth That my Truths Triumphing c. Makes more in favour of Rome and Antichrist then all the Books and Pamphlets which were ever published by Papall or Episcopall Prelats or Parasites since the Reformation of which he makes not the least offer of proof in his Book I shall aver to all the world I hope without ostentation being thus enforced to it and appeal to all men of Iudgement who have read it that it makes more against Rome Antichrist and the usurped power of Popish Lordly Prelates and Clergymen in points of calling Councels the Authority of Prelates Clergy men and Synods in making binding Canons c. and other points therein debated then any Book or Pamphlet whatsoever of this Subject written by any Prelate Clergy man Laicke or by all the whole Mungrell Regiment of Anabaptists Sectaries or Independents put together Therefore this Title of his is a most false malicious impudent slander of a Libeller past shame void both of truth and conscience His passage against me pag. 9. 10. Is much of kin to his Title Page where thus he writes The truth is I cannot deny but Master Prynne was once by more then many and they godly too held to be a man of Piety and was highly honoured in whose Books and Pamphlets notwithstanding which have been published of late may be observed more corrupted Principles and a far worse spirit of persecution then ever was discovered in the late Delinquent Decapitated Archbishop from his first ascending unto his highest growth of Authority and greatnesse and in the Diary of his life which I suppose Master Prynne Printed not to do him honour though after Ages will not be tyed to be no wiser then Master Prynne I finde such eminent signes of a Morall Noble pious minde according to such weak principles as he had been bred up in his own persecuting disposition disabling him from being instructed better and particularly so ingenious a passage in his Funeral Sermon whereby he justifies the Parliament in putting him to death as I may safely professe to all the world I never yet could discerne any thing near of like piety or ingenuity to be in Master Pryune by all that ever I yet heard of him from first to last or by all the books of his which ever came to my hands wherein yet I have hitherto done him the honour in being at charges to buy as many I mean one of every sort as I could ever meet withall Surely I am much beholding to this Gentleman for proclaiming me a man of more corrupt principles and a person possessed with a worse spirit of persecution then the late Decapitated Archbishop but the Archbishop far more obliged to him in Canonizing him for such a Saint As for his Diary

I call the God of heaven to witnesse would it quench their thirst and be a ransome for our posterity I would freely offer it to the Common good● and as for the P●●testant Religion hath it not beene lock'd up in the breasts of the Assembly hath not your faith beene pin'd upon their sleeve your estates spent and your blood shed for the result of their mindes right or wrong and so have fough● for you know not what But it may be you 'l say you have engaged for the suppression of Prelacy High-Commission c. you have indeed beat the bush but the Presbyters have caught th●● Hare instead of one High-commission in the whole kingdome you shall have one in every Parish under the name of a Parochiall Sessions besides the generall High-commission call'd the Common Councell of Presbyters Now have you not to shu● the smoke skippt into the fire is the matter any thing amended sure you have got a worthy Reformation But it may be you have a better esteem of these new Courts then of the old High-commission Let me aske you do you thinke that they 'l be better then their patterne c. Thus you may see what you are to rely upon if in conscience you cannot submit to any thing they command you know your wages you must be banished and doe not our Presbyters not onely labour for the banishment but for the lives of the Contrary minded to them And is not this thinke you as evill measure as ever was measured out of the High-commission Wherfore I beseech you Friends consider what you do consider the frait of your bodies into what slavery you are fit to inthrall them I know you would be loath your Children after you should be deprived of trading or living in the Kingdome though they should differ a litle in opinion from others I beseech you therfore save your selves from this wicked Generation who have spent your estates your blood and all and you are now worse then ever you were hitherto all hath beene in their disposing and you are betrayd and daiely delivered as a prey to the Enemy The Lord Deliver us Amen Whether this be not another Sheba a Trumpeter to blow up popular sedition and Rebellion against the Parliament Synod and their proceedings deserving Sheba's punishment and whether it be not more then time for the Honorable Court of Parliament to proceed severely against such Scismaticall Libellous and Seditious Mutiniers as these forementioned let all wise men judge If our foolish pitty and indulgence towards them according to the proverbe destroy our Citty our Church our Religion our Parliament our Realmes let those superior Powers answer it who have authority to prevent it I can with a good conscience professe and say Liberavi animam meam what ever censures reproaches Scandals Libels I suffer for my good intentions from this Libellous Generation of unreasonable men who have litle faith and lesse Charity Certain Queres propounded to Independent Ministers and their Members convincing them in many things to be meer Papists and swervers from the Word of God 1. WHether Independent Ministers prescribing and Members submitting to a New-forme of Church-Government not yet fully knowne to or agreed on among themselves nor reduced unto certainty by any of their Sect but fluctuating and swimming in their Ministers giddy braines with a reserve of altering adding or diminishing at their pleasure be not a meere Popish blind obedience a receiving of a Church-Government with an implicit Popish faith to believe as their Minister or Church believes without knowing certainly and determinately what they do dogmatically believe and a plaine worshipping of they know not what their Independent way and Government being yet not fully delineated nor 〈◊〉 in writing by any of their party though frequently pressed to it 2. Whether Independent Ministers Members Churches denying the lawfull legislative directive coercive Authority Jurisdiction of Parliaments Councels Synods Kings and Temporall Magistrates in all Ecclesiasticall affaires or matters of Religion appropriating this power wholy to themselves and their Independent conventicles Their pleading of an exemption of themselues and Members from all secular Powers in Church matters as being immediately subject herein to none but Christ Their usurping Authority to erect and gather New Independent Churches not onely without but against the command of Parliaments and Princes Their dayly practise of admitting rejecting Church-members excluding godly Christians not onely from their Churches but even from the Sacraments and their children from baptisme in case they submit not to their New-fangled way Their denying the liberty and benefit of Appeales from themselves to any superior Tribunall be it a Classis Synod or Parliament by way of ●urisdiction but onely of advice Their proclaimeing their owne Independent Churches to be the onely true Churches of Christ and allothers f●lse erronious Antichristian from which all must sever under paine of damnation Their imposing New O●thes and Covenants under pain of exclusion from Church-communion on all their new members and binding them wholy to their wayes Edicts Their stilling themselves supreame heads of the Church next under Christ and exalting themselves above all that is called God or worshipped above all other Ministers or Christians whatsoever as the ONLY Lights of the world and tying the Scriptures to their owne new-fangled expositions be not an erecting of a meere arbitrary tyrannicall Pap●ll Antichristian Jurisdiction in every Independent congregation both over the soules consciences bodies of Christians and a setting up of as many Petty Popes as there are Independent Ministers or congregations 3. Whether Independents admitting Women not onely to vote as members but sometimes to preach expound and speake publikely as Predicants in their Convent●cles be not directly contrary to the Apostles Doctrine and practise 1 Cor. 14. 34. 35. 1. Tim. 2. 11. 12. and a meer politick invention to engage that Sex to their par●y Whether their pretended Liberty of conscience for every man to bleeve professe and practise what Religion he pleaseth be it Paganisme Judaisme Turcisme Popery without co●rtion or punishment by the magistrate be not a like wicked Policy contradictory to Scripture and Religion which proclaimes a licen●iousnesse to practise any sinne with impunity and warrants Popes Papists Iesuits to murther Protestant Princes blow up Parliaments Massacre Heretiques absolve subjects from their allegiance Equivocate worship Images Saints Reliques and their Breaden-god and commit any wickednesse for the advancement of the Catholique cause because their Religion and Consciences hold them lawful And how then can we justly punish any Traytor Rebell Murder Adulterer Swearer Drunkard Polyganist Theef in case he be really perswaded in his conscience what he doth is lawfull 4. Whether the Independent Ministers in the Assembly will undertake to bind either themselves or all others of their party for the future without any reserve of altering or changing their opinions and practise to that Independent way of Church Government which Mr. Thomas

written or preached against their seditious wayes and Libels 10. Seditious Queres Passages and Practises to excite mutinies and popular commotions against the Parliament and disobedience to its commands Section I. Containing divers seditious scandalous libellous passages against the authority and jurisdiction of Parliaments Synods and temporall Magistrates in generall in Ecclesiasticall affaires in the late writings of several Independent New-lights and Firebrands I Shall begin with a Copy of a Letter written by John Lilburne Lieu Colonell the Ringleader of this Regiment of New-Firebrands to William Prynne Esq upon the comming out of his last book intituled Truth triumphing over Falsehood Antiquity over●Novelty Of which Letter there have bin three Impressions made by him without license contrary to the Ordinance of both Houses restraining the printing or dispersing of unlicensed libellous seditious Pamphlets whre he p. 4. writes thus Sir in your last book that you put out you spend a great deale of paines in citing old rusty Authors to prove that Kings Councels Synods and States have for so many hundred yeares medled with matters of Religion I grant you they have but I demand of you by what right or by what authority out of the Word of God they have so done Hath God the Father or Jesus Christ his Sonne given them any allowance in this Or have they not hereby rather fulfilled the prophesies of the Scripture which saith Rev. 17. 17. That the Kings of the Earth shall give their power unto the Beast till the Word of God be fulfilled which they have done in assisting the Popes to joyne the Ecclesiasticall and Civill State together making the Golden Lawes of Christ to depend upon the Leaden Lawes of Man yea upon such Lawes as was just suitable to their tyrannicall lusts and which might the most advance their wicked ends and designes and in the doing of this they have set up a perfect Antichrist against GOD'S CHRIST yea England is not free from this And to hold that Kings Parliaments Synods States have any thing to do in matters of Religion and Church-Government he concludes pag. 5. to be a setting of the Potentates of the earth together by the eares with Christ who is to rule all Nations Rev. 12. 5. to pluck his Crown from his head his Scepter out of his hand and his person out of his throne and State that his Father hath given him to raign gloriously in Which is thus backed by Henry Robinson the supposed Author of the Answer to Mr. William Prynnes 12. Questions concerning Church-Government pag. 6. Particular Churches members of a Kingdome and Nation are not obliged in point of Conscience and Christianity to submit unto whatsoever publike Church Government Rites and Discipline a Nationall Councell Synod and Parliament shall conceive most consonant to Gods Word unlesse it prove so in the whole Kingdomes Nations and those very particular Churches Judgement pag. 8. The grounds of Independent Government attribute nothing to the Magistrate in Church affaires further then the Magistrate is a member of their Churches and Assemblies pag. 12. You can no more Justifie a Nationall Church of Christians shall likewise go up to the Temple of Jerusalem from whence by the same Prophesie they are also to receive the Word of God and not from Parliament Pope Synod or Presbytery Mr. Henry Burton in his Vindication of Churches commonly called Independent c. p. 49 50 51 c The Church is a spirituall kingdome whose only King is Christ and not Man It is a spirituall Re-publick whose only Law-giver is Christ and not Man No man nor power on earth hath a Kingly power over this kingdome No earthly Lawgiver may give lawes for the government of this Republick No man can or ought to undertake the government of this communion of Saints No humane power or law may intermeddle to prescribe rules for the government or form of this spirituall house NOT COUNCELS NOT SENATES This is Christs Royall Prerogative which is uncommunicable to ANY TO ALL THE POWERS ON EARTH c. he adds p. 60 61. We challenge you to shew us any Parliament Councell Synod ever since the Apostles that could or can say thus It seemed good to the Holy Ghost and us to determine controversies of Religion to make and impose Canons to binde all men c. Shew this to us at this time and we will obey But if you cannot as you never can never let any man presse upon us that Scripture that Synod which hath no parallell in the whole world and so is no precedent or patterne for any Councell Synod Parliaments A short Answer to Adam Stewarts second part of his over-grown Duply to the Two Brethren with certaine difficults questions easily answered printed without license 1644. supposed to be written by Mr. Iohn Goodwin p. 13 17. But perhaps you 'l say there is an Act of Parliament a Civill law declaring heresie or any different from the State opinions such as for the present are in fashion to be censurable by the civill power I answer not without all due respect unto the lawes and such as made them that if there be any distinction between a Church-state and a civill-state which all Christians hitherto acknowledge the enacting civill lawes to punish spirituall offences is not only a solecisme or impropriety in state but an incroaching on the Churches power a profaning of the Keyes and injurious to the offender who by this meanes is punished both beyond the degree and nature of his offence If the blessed Spirit should at any time bear witnesse unto your spirit or unto the spirit of a whole Parliament and Synod what were this to the spirits of other men must not they wait with patience untill the blessed Spirit be pleased to visit their spirits likewise before they can joyne with yours or the Assemblies spirit But if the Synods determination of this or that controversie should seem good unto the holy Ghost as the Churches decrees of Jerusalem did must they therefore be imposed upon the Countrey the whole world Is not this to equallize your Synodall Canons with those decrees of the Apostolicall Church of Jerusalem and to make Scripture of yours as well as theirs is not this to adde to Scripture nay to alter it p. 28. But if King and Parliament may not force a new Religion or Sect suppose Presbyterian upon the kingdome much lesse can the Synod which neither has not yet pretends as is alleaged to use the materiall sword And if for matters of religion all power originally is in Christ as you sometimes acknowledge How can King Parliament or Synod wrest it from him Nay what think you is it not secondarily in the people as well as civill power which you affirme in the same page and so doubtlesse is spirituall power unlesse you will make God to have provided mankinde better of a safegard or liberty to defend their bodies than their soules If then the spirituall power be so inherently in

Seditious Covenants which the Members of some Independent Congregations enter into To adhere defend maintain to the utmost of their powers and contend for even unto blood the establishment of that Independent form of Church Government which themselves have set up and submitted to and oppose the Presbyterian in contempt of the Parliaments Authority in truth meere Anti-covenants of the Nationall League and Covenant which they utterly refuse to take and rayle against 2. Their menacing predictions to the Assembly and Presbytery in their two last Libels wherin they print That the time hastens the people will call them to an Account and repell and confound them by the sword That the life of Sir Iohn Presbyter is like to be neither long nor good That he wil be brought to a sudden untimely end Perhaps HANGING That Presbytry shall live but a short time to do mischeife and then THE COMMON PEOPLE will beg in to sing Her Tosse The Devil 's dead Presbytery will quickly dye the Synod be dissolved the divell chained up and therefore follow the advise of old Cat● Spem retine Rejoyce O heavens sing aloud O earth clap thy hands for Joy O England-post nubula soles thou shalt have a time of Quietnesse of pence of content for Presbytery will have never a Child to vexe thee to Imprison thy free Denizens to sucke up thy fatte devoure thy good things and eat up thy bread out of thy Childrens mouthes and himselfe is not long lived as I shewed before and then farewell persecution for conscience farewell Ordinance for Tithes farewell Ecclesiasticall Supremacy farewell Pontifical Revenue farewel Assembly of Divines dissembled at Westminster you shall consult together no more farewell Sr. Simon Synod and his son Presbyter Iacke Gens antiquaruit multos dominata perannos c. Which passages presage and intimate nought else but a plain conspiracy confederacy against the Assembly Presbytery and presbyterian party 3. Some late seditious speeches of two preaching Captaines of this Schismaticall Confederacy who being apprehended and questioned by Sr. Samuell Lukes Officers for preaching in Newport-Pannell and other places neare adjoyning in contempt of an Ordinance of Parliament made the 26. of April 1645. which ordaines That no person be permitted to preach who is not ordained a Minister threatning condigne punishment to the offenders against it for their contempts enjoyning Sr. Thomas Fairfax the Lord Major the Committee of Militia for London the Governours Commanders and Magistrates of all Garrisons Castles Places of strength Citties Townes Forts Ports and the respective Committees of each County To see the same duly observed in the Army and places aforesaid and make speedy representation to both Houses of such as shall offend therein These Captaine preachers far wiser then that devout Centurian Cornelius who feared God with all his house and prayed to God alwaies yet never turned Preacher to his owne Band for ought we read but by Gods own direction from heaven sent for the Apostle Peter to instruct him and his family Acts 10. among other speeches averred That they were illegally used by Sr Samuel in being apprehended for their contempt against this Ordinance most fasly and seditiously affirming That the Generall all the Colonels in the Army were deeply engaged IN THEIR DESIGNE That they would acquaint their FRIENDS IN THE HOVSE OF COMMONS of their bad usage that they had done nothing but taught the Word of God among other things that wee had no true Church not Ministry and that the children of Beleevers had no more right to Baptisme then those of Infidels c. which they would justifie and those friends likewise That they had Commission from the Parliament for what they did c. Whereupon one Capt. Oxford answering them That he was confident there were few or none in the House would uphold them against an expresse Ordinance of both houses and that the Generall and Collonels would not side with them in this case The said Pedicant Captains replyed That should be tryed speedily For they were resolved to make this businesse THE LEADING CASE OF THE KINGDOME FOR ALL THE GODLY PARTY adding That if the godly and wel-affected party were thus persecuted they should be forced TO MAKE A WORSE BREACH THEN WHAT WAS YET WHEN THEY HAD DONE WITH THE KINGS PARTY and telling Ensign Ratford and his Souldiers that they were worse then Cavaliers and that when they had made an end of the war with the Cavaliers THEY SHOVLD BE FORCT TO RAISE A NEW ARMY TO FIGHT WITH THEM Certainly these seditious privy Covenants Libels Speeches compared with the ensuing Sections Letters discover and portend no lesse then a strong conspiracy among some Anabaptisticall Sectaries to oppose the Power Ordinances and Proceedings of Parliament to extirpate all other Governments but their own and to set it up by the sword or popular commotions in despight of your Authority And is it not then high time for your Honours with all other well-affected Persons to look about you to Vindicate your own Power Honour Justice against these most seditious audatious contemptuous libellers against your Soveraign Authority your most Religious Ordinances proceedings in the desired waies of Reformation and to make some of them Exemplary Monuments of your Impartiall severity to deter others from the like unparalleld Insolencies not read nor heard of in any preceding Age nor practised by any Generation of men but these New furious Sectaries who to engage all sorts of people in their Quarrell proclaim a free Toleration and Liberty of Conscience to all Sects all Religions whatsoever be it Judais●e Paganisme Turcisme Arianisme Popery as all their Pamphlets manifest And to interest the female Sex and draw them to their party they contrary to the Apostles precept allow them not only decisive Votes but Liberty of Preaching Prophesying speaking in their Congregations yea power to meet in their Nocturnall Conventicles without their Husbands Parents Ministers Privitie the better to propagate Christs Kingdome and multiply the Godly party Which what confusion and Ataxy it will soon produce in Church and State if not prevented by your Honours extraordinary speedy Diligence Wisdome Power I humbly submit to your deepest Judgements I am certain your Honours have read the Histories of the Tragicall Wars and Commotions of the Anabaptists in Germany whose Opinions where-ever they predominate are fatall to the Government Magistracy Ministery of all States Churches and bring in popular Tyranny and licentiousnesse the worst of evils O then let not your Honours Patience or Indulgence to such Anabaptisticall Libellers involve both you us our Realm in like German popular Sedicions Devastations and bloody Massacres which they threaten but if these New seditious Lights and Fire-brands will needs set up New Churches Heresies Church-governments and vent their new errors or opinions against your Power and Authority let them doe it onely in NEW-ENGLAND or other NEW-FOVNDLANDS since OLD ENGLAND needes them not unlesse it be to set her all

a true married estate and condition even so say I the Church of England neither is nor never was truly married joyned or united to Jesus Christ in that espousall band which his true Churches are and ought to be but is one of Antichrists Nationall Whorish Churches or Cities spoken of Rev. 16. 19. Vnited joyned knit to the Pope of Lambeth as Head and Husband thereof being substitute to the Pope of Rome from whom he hath received his Arch-Episcopall power and Authority Pag. 18. Your Church is false and Antichristian Therefore if every Parish in England had power in themselves which in the least they have not to choose and make their own Officers yet for all this they would be false for a false and Antichristian Church as yours is can never make true Officers and Ministers of Iesus Christ and though that the Churches of the Separation want Apostles in personall presence to lay hands upon their Officers which lawfully they choose out from among themselves yet have they their Laws Rules and Directions in writing which is their Office and is of as great Authority as their personall presence Pag. 19. And thus have I sufficiently by the Authority of the Sacred Word of God proved all your Officers and Ministers false and Antichristian and none of Christs which if you can groundedly contradict shew your best skill chalenge I you and put you to prop to hold up your tottering and sandy Church and Ministry or else your great brags will prove no better then winde and Fables and you your self found to be a Liar Pag. 22. And as for these two things Of Conversion and confirmation or building up in the wayes of God which you speak of if you mean by conversion and opening of the eyes to turn them from darknesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God or if you mean by conversion a deliverance from the power of darknesse and a translation into the Kingdom of the Son of God both of which the Apostles Ministry did accomplish in the hearts and lives of Gods people Act. 26. 18. Coll. 1. 13. I absolutely deny it that your Ministery in England doth this And therefore I desire you to declare what you mean by Conversion and prove your definition by the holy Scripture and also prove that you in England are so converted which when you have done I shall further answer you by Gods assistance and as for their building them up in the wayes of God as all true Shepherds ought to build up their sheep as Acts 26. 1 Pet. 5. Yet I deny it that your Ministers do it for how can they build them up in that which they themselves are ignorant of and enemies unto for as Jannes and Jambres which withstood Moses so do these men also resist the Truth being men of corrupt mindes and destitute of the truth 2 Tim. 3. 8. And do feed you with husks and Chaffe being neither willing to imbrace it themselves nor to let those that would as their constant preaching and speaking against the truth of God and the Kingdom of his Son doth witnesse c. I have taken the pains by the Word of God and demonstrable Arguments grounded thereupon to prove the Church of England Antichristian I do promise you I will by the strength of the Lord of Hosts for ever seperate from Church Ministery and Worship in England all and every one of them as Antichristian and false Yet thus much I say and do acknowledge and the Scripture proves it that God hath a people or an elect number in spirituall Babylon yea in the Kingdom of Antichrist part of which the Church of England is and none of them shall perish but be eternally saved yet I say it is the duty of all Gods Elect and chosen ones that are yet in the Whorish bosome of the Church of England or in any part of Antichrists Regiment to separate away from it and come out of it least God plague them for their staying there Pag. 23. All the Ministers of the Church of England are not true Ministers of Christ but false and Antichristian Ministers of Antichrist Pag. 24. And as for your Minor and Assumption which is that you in the Church of England do enjoy and outwardly submit your selves to the true worship of God It is most false and a notorious lie and untruth and as well might wicked Faux and the rest of the Gunpowder-Plotters say that they submitted unto Noble King James Laws and Scepter when they went about to blow up the Parliament House that so they might destroy him and all his for you do not only oppose and justle ou● the true worship of God and throw down and trample upon the Scepter of Jesus Christ his son but also you set up false and Antichristian Worship the inventer of which is the Devil and the Man of sin his eldest and most obedient Son Pag. 26 27. Now from that which I have said I frame these Arguments 1. That Worship which is of the Devils and Antichrists invention institution and setting up is no true Divine worship But the Worship of the Church of England is of the Devils and Antichrists invention institution and setting up as Revel 13. doth fully prove Ergo the Worship of the Church of England is no true Worship 2. That Worship which is a main means and Cause of pulling down the Kingdom of Iesus Christ and establishing maintaining and upholding the Kingdom of the Devil and Antichrist and sends more souls to Hell then all the wickednesse impiety ungodlinesse in the Kingdom doth besides is no true worship of God but ought to be detested and abhorred of all his people But such is the worship of the Church of England Ergo c. Pag. 29. I absolutely deny your Argument and affirme that your Religion neither is the true Religion nor that it leads men the true way to salvation Pag. 37 38. I groundedly and absolutely deny that either the Church of England is or ever was a true Church and till you have proved it true all the pains that you have taken in proving that it is possible for corruptions evil livers to be in a true Church is spent in vain and to no purpose and I am confident that you nor none else will ever be able to prove the Church of England true nor any other Nationall Church for Christ Jesus by his death did abolish the Nationall Church of the Iews with all their Laws Rites and Ceremonies thereof and in the New Testament did never institute no Nationall Church nor left no Laws nor Officers for the governing thereof but the Church that he instituted are free and Independent bodies or Congregations depending upon none but only upon Christ their Head Therefore Nationall Churches under the Gospel are of Antichrists that man of sins institution and ordaining who only hath ordained Laws and Officers of his own for the governing of them Therefore for you

Goodwin or they shall at last after long expectation set down in Writing If yea that contradicts their owne Profession and Prot●station in their Apollogy takes away that liberty of conscience they contend for and Attributes a greater Authority to them alone to oblige their party then to the whole Parliament or Synod If no then certainly it is vaine to exspect a set 〈◊〉 of Church-government from those fluctuating Divines who till neither under-take to oblige themselves or others for the future by anything they resolve on or practise for the present and a meare sottishnesse for any people to depend upon such unstable weather-cocks and roling stones who know not where to rest or settle And that way certainly can be none of Christs on which the very prime sticklers for it d●re not absolutely and immutably to fasten for the future what ever they pretend for the present 5. Whether publike preaching prophefying and expounding the Scriptures by Independent Souldiers Taylors Weavers and other illiterate Mechanicks neither publikely called to not fitted for the Ministry especially when and where there are able painfull preaching Ministers to instruct the people be not a most exorbitant arrogant scandalous and disorderly practice no where warranted by Gods word but directly condemned by Numb 18. 21. 22 23. c. 16. 3. to 41. 2 Sam. 6. 6. 7 2 Chron. ●6 16. to 23. Ier. 14. 14. c. 27. 19. Hosea 4. 4. 9. Mal. 2. 7. 2 Chron. 17. 8. 9. Neb. 9. 4 5. c. 12. throughout Mat. 28. 18. 19. 20. Mar. 16. 14. 15. 20. Acts 20. 28. Gal. 6. 6. Hebr. 13. 17. c. 5. 4. 1 Tim. 3. 2. c. 4. 14. 16. 2 Tim. 4. 2. 5. Rom. 10. 14. 15. 1 Cor. 12. 28. 29. c. 14. 29 to the end Tit. 1. 7. 9. Contrary to the very light of Nature the Priests among all heathen Nations whatsoever being distinguished from t●e people and not all promiscuously Priests Gen. 42. 22. 26. 2 King 17. 32. 1 Kings 12. 31. 32. Zeph. 1. 4. Acts 14. 13. And quite opposite to the practice of all christian Churches in all ages ● 6. Whether Mr. Hanserd Knols the illitterate Anabaptist his Moderate Answer to Dr. Bastwicks booke p. 19. 20. where he averres That the condition upon which people are to be admitted into the Church are Faith Repentance and BAPTISME and NONE OTHER And whosoever poore as well as rich bond as well as free servants as well as masters did make a profession of their faith in Christ Iesus land would be baptized he meanes re-baptized into he should say in the name of the Father Son and holy Spirit were admitted Members of the Church but such as did not beleeve and would not be baptized though formerly baptized by others they would not admit into church communion And that this hath bin the practise of some churches in this city ●ithout urging or making any particular covenant with members upon admittance Doth not herein diametrally contradict his other Independent brethren who exact particular covenants from their new admitted Members and do not re-baptize them Whether he hath not plaid the Anabaptisticall jugler with Mr. Cranford in printing onely Imprimatur IA CRANFORD in the title of his Booke and leaving out the preceding formall words of his License to the great abuse both of the Reader and Licenser viz. I have perused this Treatise called A Moderate Answer to Dr. Bastwick which THOUGH● IUDGE ERRONIOUS yet to satisfie the desire of a Friend and prevent the cavils of some Adversaries I oppose Imprimatur Ia Cranford And whether these and such like practices proclaim not the Anabaptists such as Dr. Foa●ly proves them A False and lying sect if not blasphemous too as the premised Sections declare some of them to be A Transcript of a Letter lately written from the Sommer Islands to William Prynne of Lincolnes Inne Esquire relating the Schismaticall Tyrannicall and Seditious Proceedings of the Independents there and how they Lord it over the soules and bodies of those who dare oppose them how contemptuously they speak against the power of Parliaments the Church of England and scandalize all others whatsoever who are not of their Faction Which Gods Providence newly brought to my hands from thence when I was closing up the premised Discovery Worshipfull Sir ALI health happinesse and prosperity wished unto you as to mine owne soule The occasions moveing me at present to trouble you with these unprofitable papers are great and many and happily I being a stranger unto your Worship you may account it more then boldnesse yea even peremptory saucinesse in me to presume to write and crave favour to and from one who never had the least knowledge of me But the manifold reports I have heard of you by divers good Christians emboldeneth me but especially seeing your good works which I have perused with care and diligence which from Mr Sparks his brother I procured enforceth me so much the more in this my boldnesse not doubting but that you are a true hearted Christian truly fearing God embracing piety and hateing iniquity a faithfull well-willer to the Church of God and to all the Israel of God and to all true Israelites who with faithfull hearts love the Sion of God truly and sincerely without hypocrisie or halting between opinions dessenting from it in any by or false respects the which are the only causes moving me hereunto And for which I have suffered and a●● and have beene these thirteen mōnthes prisoner in bonds for standing in defence and an opposite unto or against a certaine Independent Church hatched and forged in the braines of our Divines and by them constituted erected and fully accomplished and with us held in great repute and adoration yea and the Actors of it not as men but even as demy gods attributing that unto them which is only proper unto God especially unto their Pastor Mr VVhite the chiefe Actor of their Faction a most seditious turbulent and hatefull malicious person and as politick as Achitophell and as crafty and subtle as the Devill having as he holds the world in hand that by his wisedome none can excell him in the lawes both Ecclesiasticall and Civill and therefore amongst us a company of poore simple ignorant and undiscerning people he is so accounted of as all his words are oracles and himselfe no lesse sent from God and therefore whatsoever he saith is and must be a law whether it concernes Body Soule or Conscience for he cannot crre so perfect is he in their conceits And if Christians in griefe and distractions of soule and conscience at their courses shall sue unto our Rulers for redresse of their factious aud seditious courses by way of humble petition for a cessation of those things till we shall heare from England what Discipline the high Court of Parliament and Synod hath concluded upon and that to embrace and follow then shall we presently be summoned to an Assizes and there undergoe such penalties as by

the Court shall be censured upon or else which they most ayme at to have us contrary to knowledge and conscience acknowledge we have wronged them and there in open Court before the Countrey confesse our selves sorry for what we have done this is our misery yea if I shall speak much more write in our owne defence against their Independent Church laying open their factious and schismaticall government and their envying against our Church and Church government and Discipline though they have proofes and grounds sufficient by the word of God to convince them the which I could never yet see disproved by them together with my name annexed thereunto yet if he threaten me for boldnesse herein to have a Counsell Table called against me I am sure of it and there to bee baited and banded to and againe by a whole Counsell together with our Schismaticall Divines even as a Beare at a stake not one to speak one word in my defence nor in the defence of Gods cause but with an unanimous consent and voyce my writings exclaimed against pronounced Libels and ignominious and slanderous writings though none of them approved so to be nor disproved for the Truth I stand for yet shall I be censured by them for them bound to my good behaviour put in sureties and if at any time afterwards I shall divulge any thing either by pen or tongue against this Independent Church their Governours or Government Doctrine or the like I must then presently be declared infamous and lie in prison till to the contrary we heare out of England yea however for want of Sureties in this case to lie in prison notwithstanding till I can or doe put in Sureties the which I did for the space of five weeks to my great damage and charge and also detriment being an aged poore man of 74 yeares of age and five nights in the cold winter time almost drowned in the prison with raine and sore tempestuous weather having no shelter to save my selfe dry These with other things have I undergon too large for to relate and that chiefely from this White of this Independent Church Pastor I meane by his meanes for if hee sayit it must and shall be by our Rulers who indeed ought to be chiefe instruments in removing and casting out such venomous vermine out of both Church and Common-weal●● But how can it be expected when they themselves are inconfederacy with him and joyne hand in to work wickednesse therefore whoever speaks or writes against one doth it against all therefore with a cunning sleight they put it off as not being done in the behalfe of their Church but as that by it I labour the subversion of the peace of our Countrey as much as in me lay as though our Countreys peace rested wholly upon the planting of this their Independent Church whereby they have made more and greater breaches as can be manifestly proved then ever they will be able to make good both in Church and Common wealth yea in private families also the husband against the wife the wife against the husband the children against the parents the parents against the children and the like according as your selfe have worthily noted in your twelve Interrogatories Is not this a great misery in so little a spot even a handfull of people Oh miserable times Oh unhappy conditions Now if you demand a title or name of this their Church or from whence derived I cannot answer you for I suppose themselves know not only framed of their fancie and braines only to get themselves a name fame and popular applause and estimation of the world But thus much I am sure of it is derived partly from the Anabaptists partly from the Brownists but most especially from the Donatists having in it a smatch of each however they feign it to the Church of New England which as they say is the purest Church this day in the world yet come they farre wide of it so that it is but their saying not their doing But grant that they were in their way aright yet hold it we not requisite that their examples should be rules to us to walk by seeing that both the one and the other have beene constituted and erected by an indirect way without the advice and approbation of lawfull Authority of King Parliament and Synod the which our men say they are not to attend or waite upon Princes nor Parliaments leisures the cause being Christs owne and depending only and alone upon him and not upon any humane power and they his servants and Christ their Lord it refteth on them in his behalfe to doe it it being a spirituall and no carnall work And againe some of them have said it that Parliament and Synod can establish no other Church Discipline or Government then theirs unlesse they will goe contrary to the word of God this hath beene publikely delivered yea by the same party such stuffe hath beene delivered that hath made all modest and shamefull faces to blush eares to glow and hearts to grieve that hath heard it yea and that upon dayes of humiliation making divers people both objects and subjects openly to work upon thundering out punishments and judgements both spirituall and temporall against divers persons as though they had both swords in their owne power or as though they had absolutely knowne Gods secret decree and this hath beene held for sound and good Orthodox Doctrine when divers have repented of their hearing and these not once nor twice but often Infinite might I relate even from their owne mouthes which would make wise men admire but I must passe over them to avoyd tediousnesse to my selfe and trouble to you And that in your wisedome you may the better conceive of this their Church The first beginning was a certaine Feast held every week at severall houses which Feast they called a loblolly Feast which for the common fare of our Countrey is as our watergruell in England so they would have it but of a common food at which Feast each did strive to excell another in the difference of making it after they had once gotten a certaine number unto them and so of an ordinary food they made it extraordinary yea so extraordinary that some in few meetings were forced to sell the feathers out of their bedding for milk butter and creame to feed them withall and to make their Loblolly the more dainty and toothsome others againe to maintaine this Feast for one dayes entertainment themselves and whole family must pinch for it two or three months after by which Feast by the shew of neighbourhood or Feast of Love though never none was found in short time they encreased in every parish to a pretty number At which Feast also their bellies and stomacks being well gormondized the Minister propoundeth certaine questions unto them by way of catechising of his owne framing for halfe an howre which each had in writing one from another and

And what persons shall bee admitted to them and upon what termes 3. Whether they meane to continue that Lordly or Masterly practise of universall Catechising all men and women weekly begun here almost two yeares past and pressed upon all with great vehemency And that all shall still be tied to answer according to that Catechise of Mr Oxenbridges called Babes Milke or some other These three practises as they have been used here being as I conceived their own inventions and not grounded on the word of God nor the examples of the Primitive or other Reformed Churches nor on the Lawes of our Land but pressed upon us meerely by their own Authority I did in some sort oppose at their first comming up namely by testifying both privately and publikely my dislike of them and the reasons why But especially the last more at large whereunto I was moved by Mr Iohn Oxenbridge who took upon him to write a defence of this practise of universall Catechising all men and women and of true Beleevers in speciall and to answer the Objections which I had made against it But what he hath performed and how well beseeming his worth and reputation I leave to the j●dgemnt of such as have or shall peruse my Confutation of that his Defence and Answer where I have put them together Touching these three practises I should move sundry questions but that it seemes they are all laid down of late and as it is thought will not be taken up againe therefore we shall passe them over that we may come to those new things which they urge now 4. Whether this Discipline and forme of Religion which they would set up be the same in all points of moment with any other Reformed Church whatsoever except perhaps in Providence where it had no such successe as should induce us to embrace it If they say yes in New-England we are very doubtfull of that not knowing certainely what is practised there the rather for that some have endeavoured to establish universall Catechising here upon that ground saying it was generally used there which appears not to be true Besides if such a Discipline be there it is no leading example to us partly because they have had no long experience of it and partly because there may be much difference between the people there and here for if all Magistrates Ministers and People were eminent in piety we need not much care what Government were used no though it were wholy Arbitrary for none would injure another and to this condition the Churches in the Apostles times seeme nearest to ●pproach But here where it is farre otherwise and in other places in generall men must be wary what Discipline and Government they set up presupposing it must come into evill mens hands as well as good yea and that more often 5. Whether this Discipline be fully set down by any sound Divine and not rather framed by themselves borrowing from severall Churches and severall Divines what will best serve their turne And whether our three Ministers agree in all points touching the Discipline they would have us embrace 6. What severall Offices and how many Officers shall be in every Church and how subordinate one to another And whether the Minister shall not be the chiefe of those Officers or as it were the supreme Moderator or Governour of them all without whom nothing shall bee established and also to have the principall hand in putting in and putting out these Officers for so they seeme to intimate 7. Whether this Minister and his Officers will govern and censure the rest according to some lawes or in an Arbitrary way and if in an Arbitrary way to whom shall they appeale if they have wrong And who shall question and judge the Minister if he decline from the truth or be a wicked liver And whether this bee not like to prove a very tyrannicall government if it come into evill hands which must be presupposed 8. If they will govern and judge according to some lawes what be those lawes whether some already extant or some others which they will frame and who they be that shall frame these lawes and what shall be the severall penalties or censures for Delinquents 9. What tryall in things of importance the party accused shall be allowed The Common Law of England to avoyd tyranny and injustice to which the corrupted nature of man is much inclined and even of Clergy men as well as others allowes a tryall by 12 indifferent men which are honest and free men of good ranke having no dependance nor are in feare of the Iudge nor beare no ill will to the party accused but such as are like to deale impartially and that upon Oath Whether he shall have that or some other so faire a tryall 10. What things they be which they will undertake to judge of and whether any thing shall bee wholy reserved to the judgement of the Civill Magistrate or whether the party offending or the matter in controversie shall be punished or judged of both namely by the Civill Magistrate and also by th●se Ecclesiasticall Iudges 11. If they say they will judge only of Ecclesiasticall matters what are those matters Ecclesiasticall and how exempted from the jurisdiction and authority of the Christian Magistrate For the Pope and Bishop obtained of Kings that sundry things might bee called Ecclesiasticall and so belong to their spirituall Courts as they call them which are no more Ecclesiasticall then other matters which belong not to them 12 Whether these Ministers and other Officers shall be judged by the Christian Magistrate in all things as other men or how farre forth they shall bee under his jurisdiction and authority and how farre forth exempted 13 From what places of Scripture is such a form of Government deduced justified or allowed 14 Who shall be the other members constituting these intended Churches and who shall be excluded from them To this all or some of them at least seem to answer expresly that they shall consist only of such as are truly regenerate and can bring sufficient testimony of their conversion and holy conversation and all others shall be excluded as Heathens Cananites Publicans c. 15 And seeing they have said sometimes and will I suppose grant that not one fourth part nor it may be one tenth part of the people here or in England are able to bring such sufficient testimony of their true conversion and holy conversation and thereupon shall be excluded Christian society and reputed as aforesaid whether this will not breed a most dangerous division between Church and Common wealth threatning the ruine of both 16. I suppose they cannot but be sensible in part and foresee the desperate issues of such a Separation and therfore it would in the next place be known whether they intend not to salve it by some politick course contrary to these principles and what good policy can be used to this purpose For mine own part I can think of

the Ministry I have no such meaning neither doe I think a worthy Minister to be unworthy or unfit for other the most eminent Offices or callings in Church or Common-wealth were it not that he hath a most eminent calling already sufficient to take up the whole man and unmeet to be yoaked with other callings as the Apostle saith who is sufficient for these things And the Apostles doe reject such employments with a kinde of contempt saying It is not meat that we should leave the word of God to serve Tables and a little after we will give our selves continually to prayer and to the Ministry of the Word intimating that these things would hinder them from prayer and the ministry of the Word whereby it appeares they would not be Deacons nor take upon them any other Office in or over the Church but spend themselves wholly in the word and prayer the like might be manifested by sundry other Scriptures And the evill of it hath beene so generally observed in England that as I heard Queene Elizabeth when she had conferred upon a Minister authority and power to rule was wont to say I have spoyled a good Preacher to day And surely if we observe it the desire of Superiority and Dominion in or over the Church in Ministers and Clergy men and the readinesse of Princes and people to conferre it upon them hath been a principall if not the principall cause in corrupting Religion from time to time and of setting up the great Antichrist and many others as might easily be shewed if it were not an argument too long for this place Thus farre through the gracious assistance of God I have expressed my minde in this matter to the intent I might stop so much as in me lies the setting up of a new Discipline and Government of our owne framing seeing we are already freed of all those things that have usually beene burthensome and offensive to good Christians in England and that we expect daily the further determination and decree of the Honourable Assembly of Parliament in these things Or if I cannot prevaile so farre as to stop it yet that wee might look before we leap and understand well what we doe before we doe it Or if neither that may be obtained yet hence it will appeare that my selfe and some others deserve no blame much lesse such evill speeches as are usually vented against us by some because we will not rashly runne with them we know not whether And lastly I desire that this may be a publike testimony of my judgement in these things For to be present and heare them daily pressed and to bee alwayes silent is taken for a signe of consent and approbation March 1. 1642. RICH. NORWOOD Postscript SInce this Advertisement of mine came abroad though but a month what horrible forespeakings threatnings imprecations and censures have beene publikely denounced against me in severall parts of the Countrey I shall not need to repeat being too well knowne Neither will I answer them accordingly lest I also be like them I will only in the feare of God and by the comfortable assistance of his holy Spirit apply that saying How should they curse where God hath not cursed Or how should they detest where the Lord hath not detested And those words of David It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction and doe me good for his cursing this day A desperate thing it is for men to blaspheme against some good light and what is it to acknowledge the good gifts and graces of God in those which they so bitterly preach against and to overwhelm them all with most foule and feigned susspicions and aspersions without cause As when they say Satan will not use profane and wicked men but he makes choise of those that are of good and able parts men of a religious life of a blamelesse conversation these close hypocrites he makes his instruments to oppose the Kingdom of Christ that is their intended Discipline c. with other like speeches I say it is very dangerous for men thus to give way to wrath and malice The Scribes and Pharisces did see and would no doubt have acknowledged the eminent gifts and graces that shined in our Saviour if he would have applied them to the establishing of their Faction But because he would not doe so they maliciously traduced him and said he had an uncleane spirit but he reproves their desperate wickednesse shewing how nearly they did approach or became guilty of the sinne against the Holy Ghost And let every man take heed how they doe cunningly fasten slanders or otherwise shew despight unto the spirit of Grace because it will not be subordinate unto their ends I could wish also they would consider the words of Marsilius Patavinus in his Book entituled Defender of the Peace Where speaking of those that presume to frame or presse Orders Decrees and other parts of Discipline without license of the true Law-giver or Prince and endeavour to draw people to the observation of them by surreptitious words as it were compelling them by threatning eternall damnation to such as transgresse them or denouncing execrations reproachfull speeches excommunications slanders revilings or other maledictions against them or any of them in word or writing such saith he are to suffer corporall punishment in a most high degree as conspirators and stirrers up of civill schisme or division in a Common-wealth For it is saith he a most grievous kinde of treason because it is committed directly against the Royall Majesty of the Prince and his Soveraigne Authority and tendeth to set up a plurality of supreame authorities or powers and so of necessity to the dissolution or overthrow of every civill Government They object also that I am but a Lay-man and therefore should not meddle with matters of Divinity applying that Proverb Ne sutor ultra crepidam and saying that even the Sunne Moone and Starres wherein he hath skill should teach him that lesson which alwayes move in their owne spheares except they be wandring starres for whom the blacknesse of darknesse is reserved for ever with many other bitter expressions But this is an old plea of the Popish Clergy to hold the people in ignorance and thraldome and should not be taken up by those that would seeme to be more opposite to Popery then Protestants are That eminent and blessed Divine Doctor Sibbes was of another minde who speaking in commendation of Mr Sherland that was no Preacher disdaines not to say he had good skill in controverted points of Divinity and that he was a good Divine And surely the calling of a Christian is of that importance that he must if need so require omit whatsoever calling he have besides to make good that one most necessary neither can he justly be charged to move out of his spheare whensoever he meddles with matters of Christianity and Religion especially such points as he is pressed to embrace and submit

rather say furious Sectaries and Anabaptistical Independents * Your Independent Conventicles admit of no appeal and so are meerly Arbitrary and Tyrannicall * They may infall●bly expect it from your Independent Churches who claim by their own private usurped power authority to exclude all from the Sacraments their Children from Baptisme and imprison all such who submit not to or oppose their Government upon just grounds of piety and policy * Your Independent Churches power is such who admit of no appeal or superiour Judicature which Presbyterians plead for * Against Independents proceedings admitting no Appeals * Doth not your neck deserve to be broken at Tiburn for such seditious incitations to Rebellion mutiny against the Parliament A loud lye * Why not the Independents rather who are guiltiest of the two and boast so much of their number in the Army and good service in the wars * A most false seditious slander the contrary being true that Presbyterian Ministers pay greater Taxes according to their prop●rtion then any other men though many Independents scape scotfree * Why may not Presbyterians as justly exact Tythes for their pains and maintenance being due by Law as Independent Ministers both Tythes and Contributions too Independent Officers Souldiers pay * When all Ministers are destroyed on both sides Independents Lay-preachers and Sectaries will embrace peace not before b Some think most money sticks in Independents singers who have beene most active in singering and disposing moneyes of which some of them give very poore accounts c Some thinke Independents have born two to one for the Presbyterians considering their number d It s such libellous firebrands as you that doe it e A grosse scandall to the Parliament tending to mutiny f This indeed is true of your Independents wives who marry Ladyes and rich widdowes who go thus attyred * This is true of your Independent Conventicles * A most sedi 〈…〉 flander * 2 Thes 3. 2. * Acts 16. 30. 31 32 33. Acts 8. 12. 36 37. 38. 39. Acts 18. 8. Neither of which texts warrant your practice of Re-baptization of Christians formerly baptized by others * The Dippe●s dip● p. 204 c. * This is the Independents liberty of conscience where they have power in their hands Note * Is this the liberty of conscience Independents plead so much for Let their own Law there bee their Iudge here Independents Liberty and Charity to their brethren Not Note Note their Insolency against the power of Parliaments Note Note * A New Independent King and Pope * Independents true Anabaptists Note this schismaticall practise Note * This is the Lordly Anabaptisticall li●erty of conscience that Independents grant to their Orthodox Brethren * Why should not independents hav● the like liberty of conscience as they grant their opposites Note the manner of ga●hering Independent Churches and ordi●ation of their Ministers Such are fit members for lawlesse Independent Churches Note this confederacy * Is this liberty of conscience or rather tyrannizing over mens consciences † This is Independents charity and humility Note Note Independen●s Atrogance and spirituall pride * Independents blinde obedience as bad or worse then Popish * Independents formerly as Episcopall and Ceremonious as Presbyters † Spirituall pride if not Papall 〈…〉 〈…〉 Prov. ● 21. Rom. 13. 1. Note Objections O Arrogance● Answer 1 Cor. 11. 19. 2 Pet. 2. 1● Act. 1. ● Act. ● 7. Matth. 24. 24. 2 Thes 2. 11. Luk. 12. 35. Cor. 11. 1. Col. 2. 1● Ioh. 4. 1. Mat. 7. ●6 A man would think that seeing there are twelve Lay-men a● they term them to one Cleargy-man be could not retaine his power ●ver them but experience shewes the contrary that if he be an active Politition that hath authority on his side and can make use of a Popists Princiciple which is in most men by nature he may rule them almost as he list Iam 〈◊〉 ● Tim. 3 15. Acts 9. 26. Acts 8. 29. 〈◊〉 6. 17. Gal. 5. 1. Gal. 4. 17. 2 Cor. 2. 16. Act. 6. 24 Numb 23. 1. 2 Sam. 16. 12. Rom. 16. 17.